Humidifier for motors



@o E. J. CUNNINGHAM HUMIDIFIER FOR MOTORS n Filed Oct. 15, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. v12 192%` 1,483,604

E. J. culsmlNGHAML HUMiDIFlER Foa MOTORS Filed oct. 15 v1920 2 sheets-sheet z Patented Feb. 12, 1924..

UNIT STA? EDWARD J. CUNNINGHAM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T WALTER G. CRITCH- LOW .AND HARRY M. VALENTINE, BOTH 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HUMIDIFIER FOR MOTORS.

Application led October 13, 1920. Serial No. 416,711.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. CUNNING- HAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State u of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Humidifiers for Motors, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to the provision of a humidifier or moistener for the io combustible charge for internal combustion engines.

rIhe main objects of my invention are, first, the provision of an apparatus which will supply the moisture to the explosive is charge of an internal combustion engine either in the form of vapor or in a mist of such finely divided proportions as to easily be air borne. Another object of my invention is the provision in such an apparatus co of means for completely controlling the quantity of moisture admitted during the Voperation of the engine while the results of the admitting of moisture lare most easily appreciated and determined. A third object of my invention is the provision of such a device in a form in which it may be assembled with the ordinary arrangement of internal combustion engines in motor cars without altering the motor car mechanism 3o and which may be readily installed with a minimum of work. Other objects of my invention are the provision of such a structure which is economical to manufacture, and may be sold for a comparatively moderate price, and which will afford easy opportunity for replacement and repair, if that should become necessary. I prefer to accomplish the aforementionedobjects of my invention b means of the structure illustrated in t e accompanying drawings, in

which- Figure 1 is a schematic fragmental view of the upper portion of an engine cylinder block and radiator with my device assembled therewith.

Figure 2 is a topv plan of the control valve casing showing the manner of its assembly with the intake manifold of a motor.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the trap for .G0 eliminating an excess of water, and

Figure 4 is a section vof the control mecha- K,

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views. In installing my device, the fuel carburetor tube A is detached from the inlet manifold B. The general present practice is to form the inlet end of the manifold B with an oval embossment, and tube A' of the carburetor which connects therewith a laterally extended oval flange, similar in shape with the face of the embossment on the end ofthe manifold, and the flange and embossment are diametrically bored and tapped for the passage ofsecuring bolts C. Between the flange o1' the carburetor tube and the embossment on the end of the intake manifold is interposed a block 10 of an outside outline similar to the outline of the parts above referred to, and having peripheral slots 11 arranged diametrically so that retaining bolts C of the same threads as formerly used for securing the gas carburetor in place but slightly longer may be used to hold the gas carburetor and block 10 in proper relation to the intake manifold B. The block 10 is centrally bored to provide a passageway 12 between the carburetor and the intake manifold of the engine, and mounted transversel of bore 12 is a vapor tube 13 perforate preferably on its outside, at 14, to permit the vapor and moisture to escape therefrom. Centrally from the bottom of block 10 is provided a hollow extension 15, the inner end of the channel of which communicates with the interior of vapor tube 13. Extension 15, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, v

is set at an angle to the planes of block 10 so as to permit the fuel carburetor (not` shown) to be attached immediately in front of the manifold, in accordance with the present practice. The outer end of extension 15 is turned upwardly and formed into a horizontally disposed flange 16 upon which is mounted the control valve casing 17, which maybe secured to flange 16 by means of screws 18, or in any other convenient and practicable manner. i

Journaled transversely of control valve casing 17 and also transversely of the inlet opening in flange 16, is the control valve stem 19 upon which within the casing is {ixedly secured a valve 20 of the butterfly type. Valve stem 19 is extended beyond valve casing 17 upon one side, and upon its extended end is secured a crank arm 21, the free end of which assembles with a rod or rod train 22, preferably connected at its opposite end with the throttle control rod D of the carburetor or leading to the dash or instrument board of a motor vehicle, so that valve 20 may be operated simultaneously with the throttle of the carburetor by the driver while controlling the engine and 'operating the car, or may be operated from the dash or instrument board.

The control valve structure just described permits of theadjustment of the amount of moisture admitted to the cylinders while the driver is running the car, but there are many .drivers who know little about the functioning of the motor and nothing whatever about the adjustment of the motor mechanism, and for this kind of driver, I have provided the modified form of control valve shown in Figure 5. In this modified form of control valve the valve stem 19 and valve 20 with their associated parts are wholly removed. The plug 42 carrying the springpressed ball relief valve 43 is removed from ore 41 in the top of the control valve casing 17 and is mounted in the bore 19a through which the valve stem 19 formerly passed; the bore 19a having been enlarged and tapped to receive plug 42. A centrally bored valve seat plug 44 having a tubular extension aris- `ing from the valve seat with lateral outlet ports 44a therein is screwed into inlet port 16a in plate 16 which 'is tapped to receive the same. A centrally bored and interiorly and exteriorly threaded plug is screwed into bore 41 in the top of control valve casing 17,

and into the interior bore of plug 45 is` screwed a needle valve 46 the conical end whereof seats in the opening ofthe central i bore of the valve seat plug 44. The upper 1n or outer end of plug 45 is slotted, at 4 order that it may be com ressed around needle valve 46 so that after 1t has been originally adjusted it will remain in the adjusted position until it is intentionally and manually changed. I have provided the upper outer end of needle valve 46 with the crosspin or handle 48 with which the needle valve may be turned without the use of a tool.

The control valve casing 17 is provided with a tapped opening, at 23, on the op osite side of valve 20 from the inlet port in ange 16 and into the threaded b ore, at 23, 1s screwed an elbow 24 to the other end of which is secured by a union 25 a length of flexible conduit 26, the otherY end .of which is connected by a union 27 and an elbow 28 with the top of the water trap casing 29.

The interior of the Water trap casing 29 is formed with a gravity chamber 30 immediately below and connectin with the bore in elbow 28 through the out et ort 31. Opposite and immediately below out et port 31 there is provided a tubular extension 32 the lower end of the bore of which is open. Upon one side of the tubular extension 32 1s provided an ear 33 to which is pivoted ears 34 arising from the center of valve plate 35, the inner end of which extends over and closes the open end. of the tubular extension 32, and the outer end of which is thickened to provide suflicient weight to maintain the inner end in normally closed positlon by gravity. Tubular extension 32 connects with a lateral tubular extension 36 whlch passes beyond the vertical walls of casing 29, and is provided upon its upper face with a threaded inlet port 37, which is connected by a suitable union 38 to the ordinary overflow pipe 39 leading from adjacent the top of the radiator 40.

The top of control valve casing 17 is bored and tapped, at 41, to receive acentrally bored plug 42, in the bore of which is mounted a ball-check valve 43. This check valve as is apparent, will prevent a vacuum being set up in the system, due to the action of the motor when valve 20 is open, as the ball-valve 43 will move off its seat and admit air through the port of plug 42; the creation of a vacuum in the system would interfere with the action of the valve 35 and therefore-prevent the elimination or discharge of excess of Water from the system.

The operation of my device isas follows: The suction developed by the operation of the cylinders will draw from ports 14 in tube 13 the vapor or very fine mist carried in the system. The operation of valve 2O will control the amount of vapor or fine mist passing to tube 13. Heavy mist and solid water are excluded from the system through the instrumentalities of the water trap, as mist which is not fine enough to be easily air borne will gravitate in chamber 30 of the trap into the bore of extension 32 where the weight thereof will operate the gravity valve 35 to cause the release of the water from the system. The water vapor which will be liberated from the water in the radiator by the heat which is developed in the normal operation of the engine will generally be found to be sufficient, but in the practical operation of my device, I have found it necessary to provide means for controlling the amount of vapor taken from the radiator, and also for eliminating such solid water and heavy spray as may be either splashed or sucked Macnee posed hollow extension, a perforated vapor tube mounted in said block transversely of said bore, one end of said tube being open and communicating with the bore of the hollow extension, a valve casing secured to the opposite end of said extension and provided With an inlet orifice communicating .with a moisture supply, and an externally operated valve within said casing disposed intermediate of the point of communication with said extension and said inlet orifice.

2. ln a device of the character described, a moisture-receiving casing provided with a valve, a tubular extension leading from the bottom of the casino to a point intermediate of the carburetor ischarge and the intake manifold of an internal combustion motor and provided with an opening disposed transversely therethrough, a tube disposed transversely of said opening with one end in communication with the bore of the tubular extension, said tube being provided with perforations in the side thereof disposed toward the intake manifold, and vacuum reducing means arranged in the receiving end of said casing. A

3. ln a device of the character described, moisture-admitting means comprising a casing having an inlet, a tubular extension removably secured tothe outlet end oi said casing and provided with an enlarged angularly disposed end, adapted to be secured intermediate oi the carburetor and intake manifold of an internal combustion motor, said angularly disposed end being provided with an enlarged opening disposed transversely therethrough, a perforated tubular portion in said end arranged transversely of said enlarged opening and communicating with the bore of said extension, one end of the tubular portion being closed, an externally operable valve arranged in said casiu between the inlet thereoiz and the point o communication with said tubular extension, and a spring-controlled air-admitting valve arran d in the wall of said casing.

d. device c of the character described, comprising a anged block provided at the bottom with a. tubular extension, said bloc-k being provided with an enlarged opening therethrough transversely of the bore of the tubular extension and adapted to be secured intermediate of the outlet of the carburetor and the intake manifold of a motor, a perorated tube, closed at one end, removably mounted in said block transversely of the enlarged opening, the lower end of said tube being in communication of the bore of said tubular extension, a valve casing secured to the opposite end of said tubular extension and provided with a moisture-admitting opening, a valve Vinterposed between said opening and the point of communication with said tubular extension, means whereby said valve may be operated, and automatic air-admitting means removably secured in the wall of said casing.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and State or Illinois, this 6th day of ctOber, 1920 EDWARD el. CUNNENGHAM. 

